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Antidepressants and their effect on sleep: a systematic review.

Mayers, A.G. and Baldwin, D.S., 2005. Antidepressants and their effect on sleep: a systematic review. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 20 (8), 533-559.

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DOI: 10.1002/hup.726

Abstract

Given the relationship between sleep and depression, there is inevitably going to be an effect of antidepressants on sleep. Current evidence suggests that this effect depends on the class of antidepressant used and the dosage. The extent of variation between the effects of antidepressants and sleep may relate to their mechanism of action. This systematic review examines randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) that have reported the effect that antidepressants appear to have on sleep. RCTs are not restricted to depressed populations, since several studies provide useful information about the effects on sleep in other groups. Nevertheless, the distinction is made between those studies, because the participant’s health may influence the baseline sleep profiles and the effect of the antidepressant. Insomnia is often seen with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), with all tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) except amitriptyline, and all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well with venlafaxine and moclobemide. Sedation has been reported with all TCAs except desipramine, with mirtazapine and nefazodone, the TCA-related maprotiline, trazodone and mianserin, and with all MAOIs. REM sleep suppression has been observed with all TCAs except trimipramine, but especially clomipramine, with all MAOIs and SSRIs and with venlafaxine, trazodone and bupropion. However, the effect on sleep varies between compounds within antidepressant classes, differences relating to the amount of sedative or alerting (insomnia) effects, changes to baseline sleep parameters, differences relating to REM sleep, and the degree of sleep-related side effects.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0885-6222
Uncontrolled Keywords: * antidepressants; * sleep; * review; * randomised-controlled trials
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:17246
Deposited By: Dr Andrew Mayers
Deposited On:31 Jan 2011 10:18
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:37

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